Mobile app for teens and parents to reduce substance use

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This study expands WisePath for Teens (WPT), a paired mobile app for teens and their parents, to see if it helps reduce substance use and related behavioral health problems. It includes a 12-week randomized trial with 300 adolescent–caregiver pairs assigned to WPT alone, WPT with parent peer-support, or an active control with resource webpages. The app uses chatbot-guided discussions to tailor strategies and delivers family-facing tasks to support change. The trial compares engagement, substance use, and mental health outcomes across groups. The study is conducted across sites in Seattle and Baltimore.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Youth:

* Resides in United States
* 13-17 years of age
* Fluent in English
* Possesses and is the primary user of an Android or iPhone-based smartphone with a data plan that they use on a daily basis
* Currently residing in the same household with the linked caregiver/legal guardian participant at least five days a week
* Meets criteria for mild-moderate or severe SA (for any drug or alcohol) on the Screening to Brief Intervention (S2BI), indicated by answering that they have used any substance at least once per month within the past 90 days.
* Possesses and is the primary user of an Android or iPhone-based smartphone with a data plan

Caregivers:

* Resides in United States
* 18 years or older
* Fluent in English
* Owns and is the primary user of an Android or iPhone-based smartphone with a data plan that they use on a daily basis
* Able and willing to receive and send several (1-3 times/week) text messages from study staff during study participation
* Is the primary caregiver of a youth aged 13-17 years who lives in the caregiver's home at least five days a week
* Caregiver indicates a substance concern for the target youth, defined as either a+b OR c:

  1. uses alcohol, marijuana, and/or another substance, AND
  2. expresses that they are concerned (a score of 3 or higher) about that use on a 5-pt Likert scale (3 = concerned, 4 = very concerned, 5 = extremely concerned).

     OR
  3. The target youth participated in counseling or another form of treatment (e.g., medication assisted treatment) because of a concern about alcohol, marijuana, or other substance use.

     EXCLUSION CRITERIA

     Youth:
* Participated in previous iKinnect or WisePath for Teens research in the past 2 years

Caregivers:

* Participated in previous iKinnect or WisePath for Teens research in the past 2 years
* Currently involved with the child protective service system due to a concern about child maltreatment (i.e., abuse or neglect).

Where it's running

• University of Maryland, Baltimore
  Baltimore, Maryland, United States Recruiting
• Evidence-Based Practice Institute
  Seattle, Washington, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Linda Dimeff, PhD — Chief Scientific Officer, Evidence-Based Practice Institute
• Study coordinator: Samantha Daniels
• Email: clinicaltrials@ebpi.org
• Phone: 206-455-7934

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.